I really like that country

I oftentimes wondered how people could travel to Thailand year after year. It seemed like such a boring choice to always go back to the same place when the world has so much to offer. all over the place.

But after three weeks in the country, I think I kinda understand. We flew in to the country with absolutely no plans other than that at some stage we wanted to visit good friends of ours on the Phi Phi islands. We never travelled far, keeping it all within a very small area of southern Thailand. But what we did see/experience really touched us.

The landscape is dramatic and impressive

The forests are incredible

The birds stunning

And best of all, the people are really really smiley. Apparently, they have a guiding philosophy to laugh/smile at everything. There seems to be a real culture of - and striving for happiness. And this is respected.

I see this in stark contrast to the business environment and society in much of the "western" world (for wont of a better term) which prides itself in seriousness, stress and greed as its ideals.

I will be going back.

Thailand is the bomb!

Just under two weeks in Thailand and this place has not ceased to amaze me. The people are incredible, dramatic landscapes, powerful forests and wonderful birds (and fishies). Its also the reason why I have not been blogging.

Here are some pics from our first stop - we stumbled completely randomly and unplanned on probably the most gorgeous beach (place?) I have ever seen near the southern coastal town of Krabi (Prananga beach and Railey). Incredible stalagtitic formations and caves, towering limestone cliffs, white sand beaches and turquoise water.

Diamond cave was beautiful.

Birding highlights were the (amazingly common) blue whistling thrush, frequent sightings of white-bellied sea eagle, and a black-thighed falconet.

We subsequently spent a week on Ko Phi Phi diving with good friends who work there, and have now had a few days in the rainforest of Khao Sok National Park (including my first two Pittas and a bucket full of lifers!)

Happy birding,
Dale Forbes

Oystercatchers in spring blossoms

I just loved these oystercatchers in the lovely spring blossoms. Texel was so much fun!

she thinks she is an oystercatcher. who am I to tell her any differently?

happy digiscoping,

Dale Forbes

More wallcreeper photos

Last Sunday I headed out to the Wallcreeper nest again, this time accompanied by Paul W. Instead of going for the front-on across the river view (see the last wallcreeper blog post with a photo of the area), we decided to see if we could get above the nest and look across. This really was an incredible spot and it was amazing to have the wallcreepers all around us.

Wow I love this bird!

These next two photos of the male wallcreeper flying lack speed and focus, but I think they get closest to summing up a lot of what makes the wallcreeper such a powerful bird for me. They have these big flappy butterfly wings and flutter about most of the time. But surprisingly often, they will decide to "give gas" (as the Austrians would say) and can really fly surprisingly fast - a flash of scarlet dashing by. No focus, just an impression of something powerfully beautiful.

All photos digiscoped with a Swarovski Optik STM80 HD, TLS800 digiscoping adapter and a Canon 7D

The images here have been resized but not cropped at all.

Happy digiscoping,

Dale Forbes

Wallcreeper nest 3

Wallcreepers at a nest in the Paznauntal (western Tirol). They are nesting in a drainage hole in the side of an old bridge. It does not make for the prettiest of settings, but the birds are gorgeous. This is the third location this year where I have seen a pair of wallcreepers. very nice.

The nest is over there in the middle of that great big wall.

Okay, I really need to go get ready - we are going out to the nest again in 10minutes!

Happy birding,

Dale Forbes

Skiwwels! in some nice light

So the trip out to the Netherlands a few weeks ago was to support our (Swarovski Optik's) promotion at the Dutch Birdlife partner's retail store (Vogelbescherming Nederland).

Late the one afternoon, a squirrel came down to their garden feeder and perched himself in beautiful light. This is what happened.

Digiscoped with a Swarovski Optik STM80 HD spotting scope, TLS800 digiscoping adapter, Canon 7D.

Happy digiscoping,

Dale

Awesome Texel Birding II

I really enjoyed being in Texel. The birding was great. The company was great. And there were tons of opportunity to take lots of photos.

Black-headed Gull cruising by.

A Marsh Harrier, flying directly over a Hen Harrier nest.

Click on it to view it big.

A Crested Tern colony saw lots of action with birds coming in and out, little fish hanging from their bills. At that stage, none of the eggs in the colony seemed to have hatched. These tern photos were taken at 9:30pm! this is the first time I have ever managed to do anything like that. Probably also the first time I have ever seen it light at 9:30pm, let alone being able to take photos of flying birds!

A stunning Great Crested Grebe on her nest, showing off her gorgeous colours. Check out that eye!

All photos digiscoped with a Swarovski Optik STM80 HD, TLS800 digiscoping adapter, and Canon 7D

Happy birding,

Dale Forbes

Greylag Geese

Greylag Geese kinda look like farmyard geese, but being in whole fields of them with young ones is really a very cool thing to experience. Whilst in Neusiedlersee National Park for the Pannonian Bird Experience in April, it was exactly like that. Very cool indeed!

Here are a couple of digiscoping snapshots I took of them.



Complete lack of time means a complete lack of post processing. They have just been resized and compressed.

Happy birding,
Dale Forbes

Birds on a pole

Sometimes there are special, magical places that just seem to draw birds. This one pole was shown us by the local Texel expert, Mark Plomp, and it drew in a variety of species.

Here are a Redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit, hanging out in the rain. Not the best conditions for digiscoping, but the colours are wonderful.

All images and videos digiscoped with Swarovski Optik STM80 HD spotting scope, TLS800 digiscoping adapter and a Canon 7D.

the video is kinda shaky as I only had a tiny rice bag for in the car. Next time, I'll have to make sure I have a more stable setup.

Happy digiscoping!

Dale Forbes

Awesome Texel Birding

I have just gotten back from a trip to the Netherlands; a bit of work helping out at the Vogelbescherming Swarovski Days (a Birdlife partner) and then a few days on the island of Texel in the awesome company of friend/photographer Peter Grobben and birder/videographer Mark Plomp (check out Mark's Texel website).

Pied Avocet chick (pretending to be a Spoonbilled Sandpiper)

Pied Avocet

Iberian Chifchaf. no they are not normally here. at first I thought we were supposed to be looking for a Siberian Chifchaf. It was only when I looked at it that I realised something was wrong...

European Oystercatcher (especially for Szimi 'cos he loves shorebirds!)

Peter playing in the flowers...

I have just had a little chance to look through some of my images and there are just sooo many photos I love. I really had a lot of fun!

All images here digiscoped with a Swarovski STM80 HD, TLS800 adapter and Canon 7D

Happy digiscoping

Dale Forbes